Twenty Seven

At the heart of every family tradition is a meaningful experience.

We made our first candy houses when Lindsey was four and Caleb was one-twenty seven years ago. And we've have been making them every since!  Christmas just wouldn't be the same without our houses. It's a tradition that is lots and lots of fun!  Even though it was just a little chilly, we moved the fun outside this year!  This gave us lots more room and lots more fun!!  Sometimes we have a plan of what we will build, but often you just have to sit back and see what happens! In the 27 years that we have been doing this, we've made just about everything!  It just isn't Christmas until the houses are made!

This is serious work!

 Taylor came with a full bag of candy!  She is hard at work!

Papa was our supervisor this year!

In the background, Josh looks like he's giving his project lots of thought!

Uncle C was concentrating on his church.  Pop's camper was almost finished!

Maddie takes this project very seriously!

Lillian got a little help from Pop.  Sadly, I have no pictures of Reed.  He was napping, and finished his later in the day.

Lindsey gathering her goodies to get started!

Papa is still supervising!

It just wouldn't be the same, if you didn't sneak a few bites!

Aunt Taylor's Cabin- so cute!

Pop's Camper-Makes me want to take a trip!

Maddie's sweet house!

My house and a pretty Christmas tree by Josh

Uncle C's Church!

Lindsey's house is in the middle.

 Reed's little house!

Lillian's house or maybe castle??

And all together.......

Grab some boxes, buy some candy and icing and get busy!  Lots and lots of memories will be made!

Merry Christmas!! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Winter Wonderland!!

There is nothing I like better than a beautiful snow day!  I have learned that when the weather man says we are not going to get any to look out.  And, when we are suppose to get lots of snow, it seems to go either north or south of us........This morning at a little before six, I was pleasantly shocked when Reed said that great big drops were falling!! I was even more surprised when they continued to fall throughout the morning!

Just wanted documented proof that it really snowed while the Christmas tree was up.  I don't think that has ever happened before!

Winter wonderland!

We always rush to check out the slough and hayfield when it snows.  Neither ever disappoint!  Just beautiful!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!!

Beach Fun

Prior to the big gymnastics meet, Pop and I were able to spend the day at the beach with the little ones.  It was an absolutely perfect day with temperatures in the low 70's.  We didn't bring any beach toys, but did manage to round up a couple of shovels.  As it turns out, that's all you really need!

We also found some really awesome Spiderman bubbles. Sister was a little miffed that they only had Spiderman, but she loved them in the end!

With just sand and a shovel, everything becomes right in the world!! Reed wouldn't take his jeans and boots off at first!

They are trying to decide if they want to test the waters!

They also managed to get in several races down the beach!

Dreaming of a warm swim.........

Back to racing!

And then they just couldn't resist!!

Post swim victory pose!!! The weather was perfect, but the water was freezing!!

Wet and all-into the hole they go!!

A few more races and then we ventured in to get ready for Maddie's meet!

This was a very quick trip, but it turned out to be one of the best ever!! We can't wait until John Sawyer can join us on these adventures!

State Champ

What a season this has been for gymnastics!!  Maddie is smart, not so much shy as quiet, independent, tender hearted, and strives to do her best in everything.  All of that worked in her favor this weekend, as she earned the title of STATE CHAMPION not only in beam, but also in All-Around!  Wow!  What an honor that was to all of us!  She has worked so hard, overcome obstacles, practiced - and then practiced some more!!  And while she has had a very successful season, it hasn't been without quite a few obstacles!  She struggled in one previous meet on the bars, and came back and won on that event the next meet! She has had to miss many activities due to gymnastics!  The day of this state meet, Maddie and her mom and dad had traveled to Georgia for a gifted field trip that she didn't want to miss, and then drove 6 1/2 hours to make it to the meet in time for her to compete! Pop and I headed down early and spent the day at the beach with the little ones.  I would say that it has all been worth it.  We've told her that the majority of people never know what it's like to be a state champ! We are all going to enjoy this for a few more days, and then she will start practicing all over again for next season!!

Reed went to sleep shortly after this picture was taken and missed the entire meet!!

The first event was the bars. I usually don't like for them to start on the bars, but Maddie was as loose as she could be this meet!  She had a very solid routine!

Beam-This is her strongest event.  Simply, she has no fear and loves the beam!! 

I watched this event totally through the lens of my camera, and was surprised that this was her lowest score. She still placed 2nd in this event.  The judges were pretty tough on everyone! I have no pictures of the vault!  It was too far away!  She placed 3rd in the vault.

Time for awards!  Vault

Floor

Beam!  You go girl!

Just look at that smile!  She was thrilled and just a little (or a lot) shocked!  She had no idea that she would win!! There also may or may not have been just a few tears shed!

I told her we would have been just as proud if she hadn't won a medal, but let's be honest-this was pretty awesome!!

 Hard days are the best days, because this is when champions are made!

This sums up these two so perfectly! Lillian is holding her five dollar bill that Pop gave her for yelling, "Let's go big dog" right before Maddie was going to compete.

Back to our champ!! She believed she could and so she did!!  

Coach Mary Elizabeth-One day after she had done about 10,000 hand stands, I asked her if she ever got tired!  She told me that Coach Mary Elizabeth told her she needed to practice as much as she could even at home, so she had to do them!! Trust me-she's upside down a vast majority of the time!

Nana and Pop think she's number one every day!

One happy family!  

We are proud of her commitment at such an early age.  We also are very grateful that she has been blessed with such talent, and works to improve and be her very best.  We love her sweet spirit and strong determination.  I know we are slightly prejudice,  but we think she is quite special!